WEEK 13
Trimester: Second.
Baby: Size of a kiwi [approximately 3 inches long]. Tiny bones are beginning to form the arms and legs, the intestines are beginning to move from the umbilical cord to the abdomen, and the vocal cords are well under construction. Baby has the ability to open and close its fists, and to make sucking movements with the muscles in the mouth.
Movement: None.
Symptoms: At the beginning of the week the nausea was really bad, but I literally woke up one day and it had subsided a huge amount! So far the nausea remains at a very mild level, but gets pretty bad if I go too long without eating. Every day waking up with more energy- one day I was even dressed and had makeup on before 10:00. Digestive system isn't in as much havoc, raging appetite, frequent trips to the bathroom, sensitive breasts, and mild cramping off and on.
Cravings: Nothing in particular. Every now and then something will sound horridly disgusting but for the most part the nausea is mild and I'll pretty much eat anything. And due to my raging appetite I'm eating just about every hour.
Sleep: Great. One night I had a dream this little one was a boy and looked exactly like my little brother Luke!
Exercise: Walking/jogging, stretching.
Stretch Marks: None.
Total Weight Gain: 3 pounds.
Swelling: None.
Maternity Clothes: Nope, but officially using a rubber band on the button of all of my pants.
Belly Button: In.
What I'm Looking Forward To: At this point the biggest thing we have to look forward to is the gender reveal at our 20 week appointment. I'm going to practice patience for the next 7 weeks but if I lose it, we'll go to Kalamazoo for an earlier ultrasound.
Best Moment of the Week: Hitting
the second trimester! After our 12 week ultrasound and appointment with the doctor, we announced the pregnancy on Facebook and Instagram. I also shared our story of infertility. The responses I've gotten have been overwhelming. We are so grateful for the massive amounts of love and support we've received.
Worst Moment of the Week: One day at the beginning of the week I was feeling pretty nauseous which triggered thoughts of negativity and inadequacy about pregnancy and giving birth. I fell into an anxiety attack. Then the thought that the only way out of pregnancy is giving birth freaked me out even more and I started hyperventilating. Anxiety is something I have struggled with off and on for as long as I can remember. I had been doing really well and hadn't needed to practice my techniques for relief. But there I was desperately seeking for relief from these dreadful feelings. I texted Jay at work to call me when he had a couple of minutes to spare. He called me right away. I instantly broke into tears and told him my negative thoughts. He knew exactly what to say. Basically he told me that it was just a combination of my out of whack hormones and Satan trying to convince me I didn't have what it took to be a mom. Within seconds I caught my breath, and by the end of our conversation I was laughing. Initially this was a bad experience but it became a beautiful reminder of what an inedible man I have by my side.
When I married Jay I never expected him to be responsible for taking on my personal struggles. I've always understood that it is up to me to keep in good mental health. But of course I did expect his patience and support. And he has always done just that- supporting me and coming to my rescue in emergency situations such as this last week. Again, I'm just grateful to be embarking on this journey of parenthood with such a solid and wonderful man such as Jay.
This incident also made me realize that I need to mentally prepare for the possibility of dealing with postpartum depression.
9/16/2014
WEEK 14
Trimester: Second.
Baby: Size of a lemon. Intestines are producing meconium [the waste that will make up the first bowel movement after birth]. Lanugo [the tiny hairs present all over baby's body] is growing. These will eventually form the fingerprints pattern on baby's fingers. Skin is very translucent and all the tiny veins in the body are visible. Lungs continue to develop and baby is practicing breathing with the amniotic fluid on a regular basis. Baby's reflexes are becoming stronger and more frequent. Arms are now proportionate to the body, but the legs are still somewhat shorter.
Movement: None.
Symptoms: Week 14 has been the best week of pregnancy so far! Not that pregnancy has been at all a negative experience, but it's just been so nice to feel like myself again. I've had more energy, I actually get dressed every day, I enjoy cooking again, and I'm putting more time into Kella's training sessions. I am still napping, but not every day. Mild cramping off and on, and frequent trips to the bathroom.
Cravings: I love soda but avoid buying it at the grocery store and ordering it at restaurants because of how unhealthy it is and mostly because it often upsets my stomach. Recently I've had some pretty strong cravings for root beer. I finally gave in and ordered a root beer with my sandwich at Jimmy John's on my birthday. Oh mercy, the combination of that root beer and that sandwich was absolutely to die for! I was practically moaning after every bite and sip. And since then I've had even stronger cravings for root beer, but I'm practicing self control by not letting it become a regular thing. Other than that, I'm usually up for eating just about anything and I'm eating at least every hour.
Sleep: Great.
Exercise: Walking/jogging.
Stretch Marks: None.
Total Weight Gain: 3 pounds.
Swelling: None.
Maternity Clothes: Nope. Using a rubber band on the button of all of my pants.
Belly Button: In.
What I'm Looking Forward To: Still anxiously anticipating our gender reveal appointment at 20 weeks! For awhile I didn't think I had the patience to wait til 20 weeks. But now that 20 weeks is only five more weeks away, the wait seems feasible. And my sister pointed out that waiting a little longer to find out the gender just spreads out fun. She's right. It's exciting having this big appointment to look forward to.
Best Moment of the Week: Jay has officially taken over with Kella in
the mornings. I wake up and the puppy is fed and playing outside. Jay occasionally leaves really early for work but never disturbs me when he's waking up and getting ready. It makes me sad when I don't get to send him off to
work, but I greatly appreciate how extra considerate he's been during this pregnancy.
Worst Moment of the Week: None.
9/23/2014
WEEK 15
Trimester: Second.
Baby: Size of a naval orange [approximately 4-5 inches long]. Ears have migrated to the sides of the head, and eyes are moving to the front of the face. Can wiggle fingers and toes. Is able to rub it's eyes, yawn, blink, and has the ability to grasp the umbilical cord. Hairline is forming with hair growing on the head. Eyebrows and eyelashes are growing. Can hear sounds.
Movement: Yes! At least I think. There were a couple of times throughout the week where I thought maybe I felt a little something but just assumed it was gas or my imagination. Then on Sunday night I felt light but definite flutters! Felt almost like a muscle spasm.
Symptoms: Maybe I outdid myself with all that extra energy during week 14, because week 15 has been full of exhaustion and mood swings. Nausea is almost nonexistent, sensitive breasts, increased sex drive [TMI?], frequent trips to the bathroom, and mild cramping off and on.
Cravings: Eating is enjoyable again! No cravings, just constant big appetite.
Sleep: Great for most of the week. I've been tossing and turning the last couple of nights. One night I dreamed that we were at my 16 week appointment and I was trying to convince the doctor to give me an ultrasound but she wouldn't do it and I was absolutely devastated. [I won't be getting an ultrasound on our next appointment and I'm kinda bummed about it.]
Exercise: Walking/jogging.
Stretch Marks: None.
Total Weight Gain: 3 pounds.
Swelling: None.
Maternity Clothes: I honestly don't think I'll need actual "maternity" clothes. I went shopping the other day at Plato's Closet with the mindset of my growing belly, and realized that it didn't effect my shopping. I've always favored tops that are loose and I love soft stretchy materials. And luckily those seem to be current trends. I found a lot of really great items at Plato's that will be good now, when I'm big, and after baby. Sometime in the next few weeks I may invest in just a couple of things like maternity pants or a belly band
Belly Button: In.
What I'm Looking Forward To: Gender reveal at 20 weeks!
Best Moment of the Week: Feeling flutters.
Worst Moment of the Week: I can't name a particular instance, but there were at least a couple of times throughout the week where I was pretty moody and emotional.
9/30/2014
WEEK 16
Trimester: Second.
Baby: Size of an avocado. Bones are hardening and the tiny legs and arms are now completely formed. Baby is capable of making expressive frowns and squints. Even though baby's eyes are still closed, they are making little movements and even have the ability to sense changes in light through the eyelids.
Movement: Possibly more flutters. Hard to tell for sure.
Symptoms: Heartburn, sensitive breasts, increased sex drive [TMI?], frequent trips to the bathroom, mild cramping off and on, and "pregnancy brain". I didn't believe that pregnancy brain could actually be a problem, but the struggle is real! I've done some pretty awesome stuff this week such as: writing out the rent check for the wrong amount, slurring words together while talking to Jay, asking Jay twice in a row "how was your day?", serving Kella water for dinner instead of her food, closing the quesadilla maker without folding the tortilla over [that one was not fun to clean up], often pacing throughout the house trying to remember what small task I was going to accomplish, and just in writing this post I've taken full advantage of the spell check because suddenly I can't remember how to spell anything. But hey, no complaints here. If anything I've made Jay laugh more than the usual.
Cravings None.
Sleep: Not so great. I'm physically tired but my mind is taking longer to slow down.
Exercise: Walking/jogging.
Stretch Marks: None.
Total Weight Gain: 6 pounds.
Swelling: None.
Maternity Clothes: Nope. Pants are sure getting tight though.
Belly Button: In.
Doctor's Visit: Little one's heart is beating at 154 beats per minute. We're measuring right on schedule and as far as we know baby is perfectly healthy.
Doctor's Visit: Little one's heart is beating at 154 beats per minute. We're measuring right on schedule and as far as we know baby is perfectly healthy.
What I'm Looking Forward To: Gender reveal in four weeks!
Best Moment of the Week: Doctor's visit.
Worst Moment of the Week: None.
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